Location

Thailand: Kanchanaburi

Program Summary

Thailand continues to be one of the most tempting destinations for those who are seeking a combination of enchanting natural surroundings, alluring culture, and incredible biodiversity. Breathtaking silvery beaches lapped by warm, crystal clear waters are complemented by friendly locals, mouth-watering local delicacies, and an ancient and fascinating historical heritage rooted in Buddhist origins.

Join this rewarding, once in a lifetime opportunity to get some practical, hands-on work experience supporting staff at this popular zoo. Get your hands dirty by joining in on daily tasks such as cleaning out animal enclosures, feeding times, maintenance work and creating enrichment tasks to keep the animals entertained and their minds active. Take the tiger and leopard cubs for their daily exercise, feed the animals or entertain the Phayre langur with new toys. Whatever you get involved with you can guarantee you will be creating memories that will last forever whilst gaining hands on experience working ...

Program Summary

Thailand continues to be one of the most tempting destinations for those who are seeking a combination of enchanting natural surroundings, alluring culture, and incredible biodiversity. Breathtaking silvery beaches lapped by warm, crystal clear waters are complemented by friendly locals, mouth-watering local delicacies, and an ancient and fascinating historical heritage rooted in Buddhist origins.

Join this rewarding, once in a lifetime opportunity to get some practical, hands-on work experience supporting staff at this popular zoo. Get your hands dirty by joining in on daily tasks such as cleaning out animal enclosures, feeding times, maintenance work and creating enrichment tasks to keep the animals entertained and their minds active. Take the tiger and leopard cubs for their daily exercise, feed the animals or entertain the Phayre langur with new toys. Whatever you get involved with you can guarantee you will be creating memories that will last forever whilst gaining hands on experience working and caring for these endangered animals.

Program Highlights

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?

The Frontier-Thailand Zoo Assistant project aims to support the work of the local staff that are committed to improving the welfare of the animals at the park whilst educating the local industry about responsible tourism. The park cares for animals which are unable to live in the wild and aims to improve their lives at the Safari park through maintaining safe and clean living conditions as well as introducing enrichment projects.

The project aspires to a long term goal of bringing about lasting and sustainable changes to the lives of animals in the park through education. In Thailand there is a lack of knowledge about responsible tourism. There are still tigers on chains, poorly run animal shows and enclosures that are too small. The best way to permanently end these practices is to show the local industry that there is a financial incentive to responsible tourism.

The park is currently running eco-friendly tourist packages to demonstrate that responsible tourism is not only ethical, but also more profitable. Education is fundamental to the future success of the project, and so to aid this we provide free English classes for staff, their families and the local villagers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. By joining this project you will not only be helping to improve the animal’s lives but also helping to ensure a sustainable future for the villagers as well.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

Volunteers will need to have a good fitness level to get stuck in and help maintain the upkeep of the animal enclosures. You will need to bring bags of enthusiasm to repair, build and clear out enclosures in all weather conditions. Challenge your creative side by joining the enrichment team, thinking outside the box and creating mentally stimulating toys for the animals.

Depending on the time of your visit you may even have the opportunity to take the leopard and tiger cubs for a playful walk in the mornings ensuring they are getting the exercise needed for them to grow into strong, healthy adults. In the afternoon you might take a ride in the bus to feed the friendly giraffes, deer, zebra, tigers and leopards where you will learn about each individual’s medical and dietary needs to ensure the animals are healthy and happy.

You will utilise your skills to help improve and develop the park, whether that be in marketing, creative writing or website design, you will be encouraged to become a part of the team brain storming and putting together new ideas to ensure a sustainable future for the park.

No two days are the same on this project, so if you are looking for an exciting, rewarding and hands-on experience, whilst contributing towards helping the local tourism industry become more responsible then this is the project for you!

I loved this project it was a bit scary at first but everybody were welcoming, the first day we were with the elephants and each day we did different things. For me knowing that I had made a difference to the animals lives was the most enjoyable part of this project for me. I recommend that future volunteers come with an open mind and know that you are making a difference by being there, the zoo is slowly changing the way they do things. Don't expect a sanctuary it is more like a zoo trying to be a sanctuary it is hard work but it's worth it.

Overall Rating

10/ 10

Volunteer Placement

10

Program Administration

10

Living Situation

10

Community Engagement

10

Health & Safety

10

Day to Day Life

10

It was great

Submitted by
Jess -
Victoria Australia| November 16, 2016

For me this was the first time I've travelled abroad online I had a good time but it was tough to adjust to a new country at first. I met lots of new people which was awesome. I really enjoyed the project everyone was really friendly and welcoming you get straight into the project and culture it was great. I would recommend that future volunteers stay for longer than a week, one week is not long enough stay for as long as you can to make the most of the project.

Overall Rating

9/ 10

Volunteer Placement

10

Program Administration

9

Living Situation

9

Community Engagement

10

Health & Safety

10

Day to Day Life

9

For me the best part of the project was being around the animals

Submitted by
Laura -
Buckinghamshire United Kingdom| November 16, 2016

I had just come from Cambodia and Vietnam on my travels I met the volunteers and we got on the bus and went over to the camp we spent some time getting to know one another and out surroundings. For me the best part of the project was being around the animals, being hands on and playing with them. I think future volunteers should make sure they were comfortable and cheap clothes that they do not mind getting dirty. You will get hot and sweaty and that is very stuffy make sure you bring lots of sun cream.

Overall Rating

7/ 10

Volunteer Placement

5

Program Administration

1

Living Situation

5

Community Engagement

5

Health & Safety

5

Day to Day Life

3

Amazing zoo...

Submitted by
Alex -
| April 29, 2015

Working with the animals was great, the other volunteers were great, but Frontier had little involvement. The volunteer coordinator called the people from Frontier an idiot the second I arrived, and I soon learned every word out of her mouth was a lie. Two weeks max stay, otherwise she starts pulling you into her drama (she says her boyfriend hits her, she talks badly about the staff) and in addition, she's exploiting the rich Thai family that owns the park, by using their money to buy things for herself and claiming it's for the park. Frontier overcharges you, and the park sees none of that money. They've made great progress as to how the animals are treated, but this is largely because the volunteers are amazing -- the coordinator has only been detrimental to the program, pushing volunteers out and delaying change. As for Frontier, do not use any of the companies they suggest for booking flights or getting visas. All of them were horrible. Do it yourself.

Adventure Types

Ecology

Nature Tours

Vacation Packages

Causes

Animal Welfare

Eco-tourism

Environment

Grassroots Organization

Tourism

Veterinary Science

Wildlife

Program Duration

3-6 Months, 5-8 Weeks, 2-4 Weeks, 1-2 Weeks

Year(s) Offered

Weekly start dates, all year

Participation Guidelines

Canadian, American, European, Australian, South African, Kiwi, Worldwide, Asian, British and Irish Participants.
This Program is also open to Families and Couples.